Usually, when you think of American comics outside of the funny pages, you think superheroes. (And even the newspapers have Spider-Man and the Phantom.) Yet romance comics were once popular, in addition to crime and horror comics. In the alternate world of Watchmen, pirate-themed comics are preferred because the public has become disillusioned with costumed superheroes. European comics took a different direction from superheroes too, as seen in Smurfs, Tintin, etc.
How did superheroes take over American comics, and how might other genres compete? The easy answer is getting rid of the Comics Code, but people still read romance comics in the 1950s-1960s at least. Bonus brownie points to anyone who can offer a point of divergence after the introduction of the Comics Code.
EDIT: Could someone please move this to After 1900? I must have been looking in the wrong forum when I posted this.
How did superheroes take over American comics, and how might other genres compete? The easy answer is getting rid of the Comics Code, but people still read romance comics in the 1950s-1960s at least. Bonus brownie points to anyone who can offer a point of divergence after the introduction of the Comics Code.
EDIT: Could someone please move this to After 1900? I must have been looking in the wrong forum when I posted this.
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